Where Is She? Maybe At The Fair?

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." 

e.e. cummings

I know, I know, I'm SO sorry!

<---bad blog girl.

It's summertime!! Just when you think its safe to love summer, ya go and marry a teacher and have another 12 year old under foot! (no offense Babe)

No routine, no lists, no IDEA of whats gonna go on next, so yep yep yep... the blog suffers. (amoung other things).

I can only laugh. It gets me through it. Sometimes, it not only gets me through it, but its kind of fun. interesting. curious. Something.

Things that I find hysterical this summer.

Angry Birds.

Swamp people

The climate differance from here to Arroyo Grande. ( not)

Words with friends

Two and a Half Men

Ginger in the pool

A fake dead cat in my garden

Squirrels snatching the bird seed ( and torturing Ginny)

Walt hunting down a new commuter car

And the funniest, happiest, tickle this summer so far....................

Linda B and Me

SCORING

THREE  count em THREE BLUE RIBBONS

AT THE STATE FAIR

 WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Red White and Blue

*Oriental Bliss

*Coffee and cream!

And a lovely SECOND place for Houses!~

GO SEE EM!!

Something To Do.

"There is always something to do.

 There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well.

While I don't expect you to save the world I do think it's not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call friend.

 Engage those among you who are visionary and remove from your life those who offer you depression, despair and disrespect."

Oh man when I read that I heard my Mama say

" Tell me who you're with and I'll tell you who you are". How about.... "If you're bored, you're just boring, go find what there is to do for someone!....LOL

And I smiled at her comfort. Isn't it so true that we just dont have the room in our hearts for those who wish to ruin the WORK of a happy journey through life? Isn't it also as true that when around those who are encouraging if not visionary, we too become motivated?Isn't it  so comforting to do for others and relieve yourself of your own little pity parties?

 I miss you Ma. I wish to pick of the phone and yak your ear off, make you laugh, and be scolded. I wish to tell you of my sorrows and listen to yours.

I suppose she has none now eh? I'm happy about that.

Ok, so I have no idea why I am on this brain wave.. I suppose it was reading the above quote today...lol
Today is a quilting day. Finishing up a Christmas quilt, then hopefully loading Avianas treasure for her Dad. Hoe Hope... Im having difficulty with this quilt as it has many layers and the joining seams incredibly tough! I have now gone through 3 needles ( sz 18). Maddening I tell you! Remember its what I believe jumped the timing last week. Today, I WILL win.
Have a great week end, and I will too:)
LYG
G

Dreams

"If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces,
 never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again."

I think Mr. Wizard must have written that. Or Heather. Not a clue. But I do it daily.

You peoples dream much? I am a dreamer. Literally. Good, bad, ugly, funny, wierd, I dream. I dream about quilts, patterns, ideas. I dream about homes and everything in them. I dream about baby grands and smiles.

I also dream unspeakable monster dreams. Lately, I've been trying to analyse when which ones occur, so that I may manipulate them accordingly. I fail miserably. Try as I may I cannot force myself to have the dreams that I enjoy. It escapes me. I'll try harder. I wish to dream what I love, and love what I dream.Click.

I'm still working on my friends Christmas quilt. I cannot for the life of me figure out why oil is getting onto my thread as it goes through the hook race. Its maddening. White thread, white fabric, black crud. ACKKKK. Its making this a not so fun project. What could be wrong? We timed it last week ( the machine) and ever since, the oil is appearing every so often, and then you KNOW what must happen next right? Frogging!!! Grunt.

I must get Aviana's quilt finished and this one just wont go away! lol Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes, you're the bug. This week, I am a pretty Narley Bug.

Anyway, so that I dont take yall with me, have a great hump day, and I'll see ya when I see ya:)

G-OUT

The BEST Part

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
– Aristotle

I did it again. I'm not happy about it either. I have cornered the market on doing dumb things with my smart phone. It dead. It got wet. My pants pocket has proven to be a very dangerous place. This time it was the potty. Yes, I am a dumb ass. GRUNT. I am already missing Words with friends and I wish to know WHY its on phones and Ipads, and I cant have the app on my PC. I wrote a letter to the developer. We shall see.

I had a fabulous week with Aviana! She had a blast too. Three play dates with her cousin Emily, and lots of one on one time with Nonni. I bet she misses me too:) ( or Pappa cause he seems to be more fun). I asked what was her "best"part and without hesitation she exclaimed FROGGIES! Come on... the kiddie store in Cambria? Sheesh. Not cuddling or reading with Nonni? Not swimming or quilting with Nonni? SHOPPING????  (must be in the genes). Now if only I could get lil Jamie over here! Maybe I should just roadtrip to Idaho?

Truthfully, I must get back to quilting. I find that if I dont keep my hands in motion, my skills get a bit jiggly. According to the above qoute, I am correct. My hands in motion is by far my best habit! I pray never to lose it.I have been trying to figure out how to make a little sewing station upstairs here. I cant handle idle hands while watching TV. I just cant? Humming machines seem to be the most relaxing technique that I use. It must stem from childhood. All of the machines in my parents shop just humming away still play in my mind. I guess its my turn to plant that sound in the grands minds :)

Have a marvelous Monday peoples!

Love yer guts!

M & M's:

Seven different activities with Aviana, the "best" part, sewing!

Grilled Artichokes With Garlic Aioli Sauce

"It's never too late to be who you might have been."
– George Eliot

Who might that be? I wonder. How about a great novelist under a pen name? How mysterious would that be? LOL You never know.........................It could be Ms Chef extrodinaire...Naaaaa too damn much work. I'll stick to quilting, thanks:) But I have been obsessed about these artichokes for quite sometime now. I first enjoyed them at the Hitching Post in Solvang. Since then I have been wanting to steal  perfect the recipe. I just LOVE them for an appetizer! ( They pair well with wine:) But its a great side dish to any grilled meat. I'm doing them again tonight with Pollo Asada! I think I 'll be making myself sick on these things! LOL

For Aioli:

• 4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 large egg yolks
• The juice of a half lemon

In a food processor, pulse garlic, salt, cayenne pepper, and 2 teaspoons oil until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add yolks and lemon juice and blend until smooth. With motor running, very slowly add remaining 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons oil in thin, steady stream, blending until aïoli is thick, about 2 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For artichokes:

4 Atichokes

1/4 cup Olive oil

3 minced garlic cloves

 Cut off stem and top quarter of each artichoke. Bend back dark green outer leaves and snap off at artichoke base.

Steam artichokes until tender, about 20 minutes. Cool and cut in half. Remove any purple-tipped leaves from center of artichokes.

Prepare barbecue (medium-heat). Stir olive oil and minced garlic in small bowl to blend. Brush garlic oil over artichokes. Sprinkle artichokes with kosher salt. Grill artichokes until slightly charred, turning occasionally, about 8-10 minutes, brushing occasionally.

Serve with Aioli.

Can You Stand More Grand Quilt Pictures?

With one day left to spare, Aviana completed her first ever quilt top! A birthday gift for her Daddy she says:) Its not perfect, or even straight, but it was done by her alone:) She is now an experianced frogger! (she loathes this btw)
After a long day in the shop, her reward was dinner out in Cambria and of course a trip to FROGGIES, her favorite over stimulating kid store. She shopped for what seemed to be 2 hours and came out with a new dress, pixie dust, hair bobs, and body glitter... sheesh... I kept my mouth shut and my wallet opened... ( what else could I do?)
By the time we finished dinner, Nonni's Pandora store was closed:( sniff sniff.
Today we are cleaning our huge mess and then off to a matinee. Enjoy the pics! Karebear, please do not show Daddy.

So SHOCKED that she did it!!! Priceless photo indeed.

RELISHING IN HER ACCOMPLISHMENT

Wrapped in Love

Her reward at Madelines. Sea Bass with slipper lobster on top. She was in heaven. Who needs pizza? lol

Busy ----HOT----Days

Okay, U.N.C.L.E   Thanks for all the caring emails, I'm really okay, just busier than a one armed paper hanger?
Aviana has me hopping?
We had a great time on the beach for the Fourth of July, Until........................Walt had an accident on the way home. He is fine, the car is not. It was a dramatic night, ( after the fireworks) and we all made it through with flying colors. ( no pun intended).
I am able to jot down a few lines now only because the lil early riser is still asleep! WOOHOO!!! She is having a few play dates with her cousin Emily and between the two of them, guess who is worn out? Yep, yep, yep...They have done the pool, the park, zoo, swimming, beaching, and on Thursday will storm the theatre! lol Ahhhh playdates.....
So, how are you peoples? Did everyone else enjoy the holiday? Hey! I have to type up a great recipe for ya .. I have been obsessed with grilling artichokes, and I think I've got it! Stay tuned:)
On the quilting front, I am doodling on a Christmas quilt while Avi pieces her first top. Its going well! No blood yet! I have but two days left with my lil squirt, as she is demanding to see her Mommy already. GRUNT. Here are a few pics, and I'll see ya when I see ya!!!
LYG!
PS: What will I do now that the O.J. Trial is over?

M & M's Include:

Absolutley blessed to have Walt walk away from that wreck.
Baby grand visits
A quilting buddy
cool ocean breezes

Saturday Morning At Nonni's (pictures added)

Avi intercept at Harris Ranch!

 If ya cant have em all, GO GET ONE!

And then talk til late night and pass out.........(with Ginger in protect and defend mode)

Then walk her a mile or so til she thinks Nonni is NUTS, ( and her foot hurts)

Give a slight reward at the play ground.........

Then have her help with watering chores out back! (yes, Mom, I fed her too)

We are now quilting as to beat the heat... later, swim time! Be back soon!

PS:  Nonni's got a baby grand here!!!!

And even though we sing the "right sides together" song.. still it goes together backwards? Ahhhh Spawn of Nonni, the Frogger....lol

Do It Now

"If we wait for the moment when everything is ready, we shall never begin."
– Ivan Turgenev

I'm reading the above title on Audio. I wish that I could say it was doing me well, however I'm having a rough week???!!!! Starting on Monday, every dang day crap is going wrong. I need a break. Sometimes .....before I can change the channel, I fall down. I really dispise that, but it happens. I am of the mind that the phone ringing, isnt a good thing.....grunt.

So, its Thursday. Today after a good stitch n bitch night, one thing went right... its a start yes? My machine flipped out on me the other day causing a biggo rip in my hairdressers quilt. I just about had a coronary. I mean come on...what if she caused my hair to fall out? Anyway, this morning Walt saved the day and she hums again. Now to repair the damages. Wish me luck:) My BFF suggested snowflakes as a coverup. I think that may work. Then again, so would a few words from ANYONE on the Casey Anthony trial right? Again I say... does anyone at all put any creedance into swearing in a court of law to be truthfaul????

Hey! Am I venting? I think I am! Nothing a good slice of Tirimisu wouldnt cure.

I miss my baby grands. dang it.. ( side note)

Ok, I'll quit. I should go quilt. Maybe I'll go make something in the kitchen. Blima posted some great ideas I can try eh? HmmmmRasberry bars.... ( not sure, but I may have  a sweet tooth happening)

You peoples have a good day and send me some good ju u...or something.

Love yer guts!

G

 



Ability, Motivation, Attitude

"Ability is what you're capable of doing.
Motivation determines what you do.

Attitude determines how well you do it.

"~Raymond Chandler

Ahhhh What do Marvelous Monday's bring for you today? I pondered this while pounding the dirt for 2 miles at the lake this morning. Why yes, thank you, I AM STILL WALKING! (alert the media) I think its giving me more energy. Must be thaty new commercial for who knows what that says " A body that is in motion, stays in motion". I wonder wth thats for anyway. At any rate, I know ts helping the clear my mind and give to me much needed energy. At my age however I am now considering a knee brace, and an ankle brace. Dang bones. I have made it 2 years more without the needed knee replacement. I aim to go longer too. I just dont know how I would handle another knee job without my Mom to haul my dumb ass around. :(

Clic

I am busy cleaning and organizing today. When under quilt pressure the house goes to hell in a hand basket for sure! ::who made that wierd saying up?::: Ginger looked so teddy bear-ish that I took the shaver to her last night! She seems happier, however I'm no groomer. My laundry was stacked so high that I had to go buy a couple new sun dresses...::::snicker:::: A tornado has been through my studio, and we will NOT discuss the floors. Suffice to say that they are as messy as my paperwork. Grunt.

Alas, quilts are entered, and all is well. I am already considering PIQF & RD2CA entries! I know, I know... finish some UFO's, tee shirt quilts, yada yada yada.. Im on it?

Like.... right now? LOL

M & M's include:

Insurance on the phone I swam with!!!

A place and partner to swim with

Beautiful quilt entries

Ginger's tolerance

A theatre close by to cool off in and be entertained!

A great walking path, its not Cambria, but its pretty awesome!

Free shipping materials from USPS

Ever Had A Quilt Kick Your Butt?

And make ya swoon at the same time? I will be so sad to see this beauty leave. AND SO HAPPY!!! She will reside at the fair to begin her travels in shows. (cross everything K?)
Deadline met! Phew!!
I will be enjoying a few days off for some much needed beach time:) Lets call it...inspiration with Pelican Pete!
Happy Week end Dear Peoples!

 The top ten things I learned from this project.

10. I can make 1500 bubbles before partial blindness takes over, and rest is needed.
9. Sitting in the pool with Iced coffee helps the whole design process.
8. Micro drive handles are a must, but they DO break while under pressure. grunt.
7.I need an auto advance on my machine.
6. I MISS my cherrywood floor for scooting along 14 feet.
5.Quilters Dream Wool Blend & Glide Thread ROCKS.
4. Cooking, housework, blogging, Facebook,  isnt really so important when there are bubbles to make!
3. Being totally engrossed in the Casey Anthony trial evokes very strange emotions while quilting.
2.Starting a walking program insures stamina while quilting above bubbles.
1. And the number one lesson learned in 3 weeks?

Quilts like this truly are priceless.

Dear Lord, Thanks for the quilt, the talent, and the love.
Heal my eyeballs and send me a decent camera K? Love you!

Starting A Walking Program

Life is like riding a bicycle, 

in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving."

 ~Albert Einstein

Mornin. Have you peoples seen that commercial that says a body in motion stays in motion? Well, I've seen it so many times that I think I'm buying into it. Today. 8 AM my non showered lions mane bed head walked the lake a little over a mile. Its a good start, right? Of course right. (this is why MM's are late!) Wish me luck and more than that...some stick-to-it-tive-ness!!! I bought tons of Powerade because I am anticipating S.W.E.A.T.
Frankly, I cant do this heat with extra weight. Its gotta go!

On another note: Look at Jamie catching her first fish!!! Can you even believe that she is three already???? Nor can I. Sweet baby jamie, I miss her!

I have my nose stuck in my new york beauty...with the air conditioning blasting! I'll see ya when I see ya!
LYG!

M & M's include:
A good walking path
A good walking partner or two
Beautiful tension without a camera!
Talking to Jamie on her birthday!
A new groomer ( holistic) for Ginny!
Did I mention air conditioning?
Iced coffee!!!

Done! Submitted!

"The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it."– John Ruskin

Forty Five pages of why the heck I am a quilter! Done. Now I wait. I hope I did it right. Well. I'm so very happy to get back to quilting instead of brain racking writing. Sheesh... I'll take micro stippling any day, hands down! Thank you to those of you emailed your tips on my content:) Onward.....
I'm going to have a second cuppa, and get busy! I did make it out to the hardware store for more pegs for my thread stash. Do you know how expensive those little sticks are for peg boards? Damn! Maybe I need a whole loan just for shop tools! I settled on 40 more pegs for cone thread. It will have to suffice for now.

My cousin was here this week from las Vegas. She is a new machine quilter and I shared my stash to get her going. I know that she will do well as she has the dream AND the drive! Go Nichol! I remember all to well my first days of being a longarmer. Thank God for those of my mentors who came to my rescue when I whined about sewwwwww many things! lol Paying it forward is nearly a priviledge.

Ok you peoples, thanks for the coffee,  have a great day, and I'll see ya when I see ya!
LYG!
G

Happy Birthday Jamie!

How can three years have passed so quickly? This adorable baby is so cute on the phone that i just melt! I miss her so much.. Happy birthday Lovie!

Business Plan, Rough Draft # 7....Grrrrrr

Buried, Buried, Buried, in not my beautiful quilt, but in books, researches, internet, all in preparation for an IQ.
Thats right... I said it... I am in hopes of vamping up Dear Gina with an IQ... Wish me luck, sorry I'm late with M & M's...
I took 2 Advil, 2 Excedrin, 1 red bull, stuck on the tunes, and here we go again!
While I don't cotton much to hand outs, I do believe in hand ups and certainly paying it forward!
Cross everything, and pray with me... and believe!
Thats what I'm doing.. while reading and writing of course!!
LYG!!
G

Marvelous Mondays include:

Hope
The new bird bath I made. Pics when I can K?
my Smart phone!
Air conditioning:)
My cousin Nichols visit and helping her start her very own LAing company. (PIF)
Those new lil wheat thin STIX, chipoltle pepper!
Pictures of my baby grands:)

Five Second Rule

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. 

 ~Luciano Pavarotti



Almost everyone has dropped some food on the floor and still wanted to eat it. If someone saw you drop it, he or she might have yelled, “Five second rule!” This so-called rule says food is OK to eat if you pick it up in five seconds or less.
Believe it or not, scientists have tested the rule. We’re sorry to report it’s not necessarily true. Bacteria can attach itself to your food even if you pick it up super-fast. But will your dropped food contain enough bacteria to make you sick? It’s possible — and that’s why you shouldn’t eat food that has hit the floor.
Here’s what you need to know about the five second rule:

A clean-looking floor isn’t necessarily clean.

Fast may not be fast enough.

Bacteria can attach to your food as soon as it hits the floor.

When in doubt, toss it out.

So what are you to do with that delicious piece of whatever that just slipped from your grip? The safest choice is to throw it out. Or give it to your lil sister:) ( come on....just kidding!)

So as you can see, I'm quilting, not cooking this week! LOL Man I need a Costco run! Okay, and a housekeeper. Chit. I have a mess and here I sit! 
TGIF you peoples, LYG!
PS: TY Blim!

A Sneak Peek

"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."– Colette

I was so intense last night that I BWOKE my  extrended drive handles! I felt like THOR for a bit... I need to buy another roll of QD Wool, and I am using all GLIDE Sheen colors of thread and Rockin' the shop. Linda? Your piecing skills are nothing short of perfection. TY!!!

I will be ditching til the cows come home today as I have the design mapped out. The house is a mess with doodles a plenty. 

Hey?

I'll see ya when I see ya!

Love yer guts!

G

Workin Hard!

"This I conceive to be the chemical function of humor: to change the character of our thought."Lin Yutang

Or playing hard, who knows? Who cares? I think I'm doing fine. I have fresh coffee, a new sundress, and a scrumptious quilt to quilt! What could be wrong with that? All I need now is just O.N.E. winning lottery ticket... oh sorry.. its always in the forefront of my mind..lol

I'm signed up for Machine Quilters Expo West! I have several classes for IQ. Do I have an IQ? Nooooo but... Ask, believe, receive eh??? Yes, indeedy.. I'm all over it! Know why? Because I'm a good girl and I freaking deserve stuff. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

So I want to show you this NYBeauty, but I need my BFF's permission. Stay tuned. Its so sew fun! I am using my last queen of wool batting and let me tell you its a J.O.Y. to quilt through! I am going to TRY this time to keep tabs on my hours for this project. Its really never worked out so well for me, but I continue to try. I will let you know.

It's twenty minutes until the trial resumes. Are you watching? Isn't half the free world? Its great listening while stitching, however I am NOT liking this lisping science doctor at all. Annoying.

OK, I'm off.. clip boards calling me!

LYG!

G

Graduation In The Rain

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."– T.S. Eliot

Has it really been raining for a year? I think so!!! From last September until now, with not much sun in between! I cant believe it!
My trip up north was wet, wet, wet...AND WILD!
As I hydroplaned into stop number one to see the Dear Daughter and grands, to my HORROR Dear daughter was being admitted into the hospial for suspected Gall bladder eruption! After several gruelling tests, she has been discharged with suspected Gerd!! ( WOW)
Ok, Dash further up the hill to make ready for a WET WET WET graduation! ( not to mention the wet,wet, wet, party afterward!)
Everything still went off without a hitch, however we WERE all wet rats! Jackie, being the STUNING 18 yr old graduating wet rat! Congratulations jackie!
Dinner was great, and thankfully, dry! Which is more than I can say for my outfit and RUINED woven wedges! ( yes, trash canned)
I drove home of course in rain, to find rain at my destination! WTH?????
I KNOW when the heat heats I will whine for coolness, so get ready!
All in all it worked out, I am so happy to be home. I need an underwear recoop day, but I must get to quilting! Mid State Fair breathing down ny neck:)
I am hot on my clipboard list, and going for my second cuppa now.... have a marvelous Monday!

Marvelous Mondays include:

Safe drive in the rain! ( I love my car!)
Dear Daughter being O.K.A.Y.
Graduation dinner being delish:)
Coming home:)
A great tip in a card to come home to!
A new Pandora charm!
Great fun with my neice and nephew

Pick Up.Take Off. Sampler Finish.

"If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces,

 never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again."

– Flavia Weedn

Little does she know that I spend every minute of everyday doing this!

PFFT!

Well , I'm off. I drank so much coffee last night that I had to have a bottle of tums on the side! Damn it! Getting old really isnt for sissies!!! I am excited for my neices high school graduation.
I am just NUTS about getting back to my New York Beauty slotted for next artistic harmony! I suppose I should savor the moments in between yes? Ok, yes. I'll do it. grunt. So difficult.. maybe I'm ADHD? Yeah crap, add it to the list.

I had fun with this one. I cant decide if its cival war era-ish or not? But it was fun. I C.A.N.N.O.T. wait for a decent camera! Damn!

I hope to have some good tales for ya this week... you peoples be good:)